Experimental study of the effect of external signal on microwave oscillations in a nonrelativistic electron beam with virtual cathode

The effect of an external harmonic signal on the characteristics of microwave generation in a non-relativistic electron beam with virtual cathode (VC) formed in a static retarding electric field (low-voltage vircator system) has been experimentally studied. A significant increase in the vircator generation power is observed when the frequency of the external signal is close to the frequency of VC oscillations. At large detunings, a broadband chaotic generation is observed.